Sr. Paralegal (commercial), Structural Heart

Abbott; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free medical coverage

Strong retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

FreeU education benefit

Global opportunities

Diversity & inclusion focus

Job summary

Abbott is seeking a Senior Paralegal for the Santa Clara, CA location. You will independently support the Legal Department, manage complex matters, and advise internal clients on contracting and risk.

The role focuses on commercial agreements and cross‑functional collaboration to drive business objectives. With 4+ years of relevant experience and a Bachelor’s or ABA‑approved Paralegal certificate, you will navigate legal issues, maintain templates, and deliver training across business units.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or ABA approved Paralegal Certificate or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of relevant experience in a legal role.
• Familiarity with basic laws related to the areas of responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Prepare complex commercial agreements (professional services, supply, research, NDAs, etc.).
• Serve as primary legal work intake contact and advise on business objectives.
• Perform substantive legal work including analysis, drafting, negotiating, and consulting.
• Lead cross‑functional legal workstreams and coordinate with multiple teams.
• Maintain templates and documents in management systems; deliver trainings.

Skills

Paralegal Certification

4+ years experience

Legal knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

ABA approved Paralegal Certificate

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader creating breakthrough science to improve people’s health. We are always looking towards the future, anticipating changes in medical science and technology.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self, and live a full life. You will also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO.
• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution.
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

This position works out of our Santa Clara, CA location in the Structural Heart Division.

The Senior Paralegal performs duties with a high degree of independence and exercises sound judgment with limited supervision. The Senior Paralegal will provide legal services and resolve complex legal matters for assigned responsibilities or clients. Supports the business in achieving its business objectives by communicating advice of the Legal Department, managing legal risks to the corporation, and driving process improvements aligned with Legal Department priorities.

What You’ll Work On

• Interfaces with internal clients in preparing complex commercial agreements, including but not limited to professional services agreements, supply agreements, research agreements, design and development agreements, confidentiality disclosure agreements, etc.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for legal work intake system(s) for internal clients’ contracting needs, functioning as a trusted advisor to provide legal services/advice in support of business objectives. Resolves matters for assigned responsibilities. Independently manages complex legal matters with minimal supervision, exercising sound judgment regarding escalation and risk tolerance by identifying, evaluating, and resolving complex and high-risk legal issues related to assigned matter; develops and proposes business-aligned solutions.
• Performs substantive legal work that requires deep knowledge of legal concepts including complex analysis, drafting, negotiating, and consulting.
• Resolves routine and complex legal matters in areas of responsibility with minimal supervision.
• Conducts in-depth analysis of novel, complex, or ambiguous legal issues and presents well-reasoned recommendations to attorneys or senior legal leadership.
• Develops deep knowledge of Abbott’s businesses supported and knowledge of the broader business impact.
• Keeps abreast of changes in laws that affect client areas.
• Leads and coordinates legal workstreams on cross‑functional, multidisciplinary projects involving multiple Legal teams, business units, or geographic regions.
• Represents Legal Division internally to clients.
• Represents Abbott externally with a high degree of professionalism and credibility in interactions with customers, suppliers, and opposing counsel.
• Helps maintain all agreements in document management systems.
• Maintains templates in document management system and helps prepare updates to templates.
• Prepares and delivers presentations and training materials on commercial legal topics for Legal and business audiences; supports the preparation of legal presentations on a broad range of topics.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and/or ABA approved Paralegal Certificate or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Must have familiarity with basic laws related to applicable areas of responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience reviewing agreements/contracts and the ability to interpret and synthesize information from various sources to achieve superior outcomes.
• Must be self‑motivated and detail‑oriented with high work standards.
• High level of discretion, maturity, and ethical integrity.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, proofreading, and organizational skills with a focus on continuous process improvement.
• Ability to multi‑task, work independently and efficiently in a fast‑paced environment, proactively thinking through challenges and coming up with pragmatic workable solutions.

* Participants who complete a short wellness assessment qualify for FREE coverage in our HIP PPO medical plan. Free coverage applies in the next calendar year.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.

The base pay for this position is

$85,600.00 – $156,000.00

In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

JOB FAMILY: Operations & Business Support

DIVISION: GENC General Counsel

LOCATION: United States > Santa Clara : Building B - SC

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:

WORK SHIFT: Standard

TRAVEL: Not specified

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: Not Applicable

SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES: Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday)Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans.EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdfEEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf